ABU DHABI // An international study has rated the UAE as the best place in the Arab world to live.
That was the finding of a comprehensive, global survey of wealth and well-being by the Legatum Institute, an independent think-tank based in London. It collated statistics from 104 countries that make up more than 90 per cent of the world's population.
The UAE topped the list of Arab nations, coming in 47th place overall. It was the only one to break into the top 50, ahead of Kuwait (52), Tunisia (68) and Saudi Arabia (81).
Countries were graded on measures including economics, health care, safety, education, freedom and social life. Finland ranked top overall, while Zimbabwe was last.
The UAE fell steeply down the rankings from last year's study, when it was put in 28th place overall. However, Dr Ryan Streeter, a senior fellow at the Legatum Institute, said the drop was largely down to changes in methodology. "It was a result of more accurate measurements rather than a fundamental change in conditions in the UAE," he said.
The UAE scored highly in health, safety and security, but was brought down by low scores in social capital and democratic institutions.
It ranked 47th for education, earning praise for gender equality and the high number of primary teachers but losing points for low enrolment in primary and tertiary education.
"There is a continued need to improve educational outcomes," said Dr Streeter. "It's an urgent policy priority."
However, he noted that "these aren't bad scores at all".
The UAE's best placing was in safety and security, ranking 18th - ahead of America, Britain, Germany and France.
"Domestic crime is not a significant problem," noted Legatum, citing the Gallup World Poll.
"The country has the second lowest homicide rate worldwide, leading to reports that 95 per cent of the population feel safe walking alone at nights, the highest rate worldwide."
However, the report only ranked the country 98th out of the 104 nations in democratic institutions.
Despite that, the institute said the UAE had "effective governance".
It cited respect for the rule of law and 94 per cent approval of the judicial process.
It earned praise for its tolerance, too, with 87 per cent of the population under the impression that their area was a good place for immigrants to live, and 71 per cent believing that ethnic minorities were welcome.
An extremely low volunteering rate (nine per cent) meant the UAE was ranked 77th in the world in social capital, which measures the development of relationships and the ability to form social networks and support structures.
Dr Meenaz Kassam, an assistant professor of sociology at the American University of Sharjah, suggested that the country needed to encourage a sense of belonging and participation among its transient expatriates.
"Relationships are short term," she said. "As soon as you feel you know someone, they're gone."
* With additional reporting by Zahra Hankir
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
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Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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The major Hashd factions linked to Iran:
Badr Organisation: Seen as the most militarily capable faction in the Hashd. Iraqi Shiite exiles opposed to Saddam Hussein set up the group in Tehran in the early 1980s as the Badr Corps under the supervision of the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The militia exalts Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but intermittently cooperated with the US military.
Saraya Al Salam (Peace Brigade): Comprised of former members of the officially defunct Mahdi Army, a militia that was commanded by Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and fought US and Iraqi government and other forces between 2004 and 2008. As part of a political overhaul aimed as casting Mr Al Sadr as a more nationalist and less sectarian figure, the cleric formed Saraya Al Salam in 2014. The group’s relations with Iran has been volatile.
Kataeb Hezbollah: The group, which is fighting on behalf of the Bashar Al Assad government in Syria, traces its origins to attacks on US forces in Iraq in 2004 and adopts a tough stance against Washington, calling the United States “the enemy of humanity”.
Asaeb Ahl Al Haq: An offshoot of the Mahdi Army active in Syria. Asaeb Ahl Al Haq’s leader Qais al Khazali was a student of Mr Al Moqtada’s late father Mohammed Sadeq Al Sadr, a prominent Shiite cleric who was killed during Saddam Hussein’s rule.
Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba: Formed in 2013 to fight alongside Mr Al Assad’s loyalists in Syria before joining the Hashd. The group is seen as among the most ideological and sectarian-driven Hashd militias in Syria and is the major recruiter of foreign fighters to Syria.
Saraya Al Khorasani: The ICRG formed Saraya Al Khorasani in the mid-1990s and the group is seen as the most ideologically attached to Iran among Tehran’s satellites in Iraq.
(Source: The Wilson Centre, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation)
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